Casualties As Christians/Muslims Clash Again in Jos

Vanguard (AFP)

29 August, 2011

Casualties As Christians/Muslims Clash Again in Jos 

Clashes broke out between Christians and Muslims in tense city of Jos, Monday, resulting in casualties and the burning of vehicles and at least two shops, witnesses and an official said.

“There are casualties, but the police will give that later,” said Yiljap Abraham, information commissioner for Plateau state, without specifying if anybody was killed.

Plateau state Police Commissioner Emmanuel Dipo Ayeni confirmed there was fighting.

“There were some skirmishes among the worshippers … The matter has been put under control,” he said.

Witnesses told AFP that a group of Muslims had gone to a prayer ground in the city of Jos, the capital of Plateau state, to mark the end of Ramadan when they were surrounded by residents of the Christian-dominated neighbourhood.

The residents would not allow them to leave and violence resulted, with motorcycles and cars burnt. An AFP journalist saw two shops burnt.

Gunshots could be heard, possibly from soldiers firing into the air in a bid to clear the crowds.